How to import the primary addressee and salutation (includes sample data file)

Note : Before you proceed with the following instructions, back up the database. If your organization integrates multiple Blackbaud products, refer to the Additional Requirements section of the backup article.

If you are new to importing, please review How to import (BB58904) before proceeding.

View a sample data file (7PrimAddSal.CSV) which imports the primary addressee and primary salutation for Phillip Keller. If Phillip Keller already has a primary addressee or salutation, the current ones are overwritten. The primary addressee is based on the templates in Configuration. The primary salutation is editable.

Note: The sample file contains more than the required fields. Your actual import file should contain, at a minimum, all of the fields from the sample file if the addressee or salutation is editable. If not, only the fields in italics are required.

Although headers are not required in The Raiser's Edge 7, we recommend using them. Otherwise, you must manually map the fields in the data file to the corresponding fields in The Raiser's Edge. You can save the file in any delimited format or in fixed length. However, this example and the sample data file are in CSV format.

Include the following fields in the data file (for a sample file, refer to step 1 above):

Note: The PrimAddID and PrimSalID fields are required even if the addressee or salutation is editable. If editable, it doesn't matter what ID number you enter as long as the ID number is in Configuration. We recommend using 1. If not editable, enter the ID for the appropriate addressee/salutation format in Configuration.

If necessary, include other fields in the data file that are available for this import type.

Note: Not all fields can be imported with all import types; for example, gifts cannot be imported with constituent information. Refer to the Constituent Fields section of the Import Guide for a list of available fields (layout table) and for what each is used. In version 7.5 and above, you can also access the layout table from the Fields tab in the import parameters.

How do you want the system to identify existing constituents? Use the Import ID*

What is the format of this import file? Delimited

File Layout Tab:

Field Separators and Text Qualifiers: Comma, Quotation

Import Field Names: Field names are on the first line of the import file

Sample Import Format: Verify the first few rows of the import file

Fields Tab:

In the Import Fields frame, verify that all rows in the Field to Import column are correctly mapped to the corresponding field in the Raiser's Edge Field column. Also, pay attention to the Extensions column. Groupings of phone number fields in the import file must share the same extension.

Summary Tab:

We recommend marking all available checkboxes. At the very least, mark the Create control report option.

* When creating a data file (steps 1 and 2), you can use the constituent ID or Social Security number instead of the import ID for the unique identifier. Use the same field in the How do you want the system to identify existing constituents? frame in Step 4.